Mechanical telephone



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. M. RUSSELL. MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

Patented Sept. 30,1890.

v Wii 255 s:

0M V a 1 his lfl'n e ys, /4 I I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. M. RUSSELL.

. MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

No. 437,624. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

Wifgesscs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. RUSSELL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

MECHANICAL TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.43'7,624, dated September 30, 1890.

Application filed June 4, 1889. Serial No. 313,051. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs M. RUssELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented anew and useful Me chanieal Telephone, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical telephones, and the objects "of the invention, together with the novel features thereof, will hereinafter appear, and be particularly pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of atelephone constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan, the diaphragm-chamber being raised. Fig. 3 is a detail of the alarm mechanism; Fig. 4, a central vertical longitudinal section of the entire apparatus; Fig. 5, a detailin perspective of the diaphragm and its connection with the line-wire; Fig. 6, a detail of the springtrigger, and Fig. 7 a perspective of the trigger-releasing bail.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the usual base or back board of the phone, which is provided for a portion of its length at each of its sides with side walls 2, connected at their rear or upper ends by a transverse bar 3. Within the edges of the sides 2 is arranged the alarm-box 4, upon the outer lower wall of which are arranged upon arbors 5 alarm-bells 6, spaced a short distance apart. lVithin the box at is arranged the alarm mechanism, and the same consists of a base-board 7, having opposite sides 8, said base-board being screwed or otherwise fastened within the box. In upper and lower frame-bars 9 are formed bearings 10 and 11, said bars being secured to the opposite side pieces 8 and the bearings aligning with each other. Vithin the bearings 10 is arranged the power-shaft 12 of the mechanism, and upon the same is mounted a drum 13, a ratchetwheel 14, and a large gear-wheel 15, having a dog 16 operating in the ratchet, and springpressed bya spring 17. The lower surface of the rim of the wheel is provided with a series of depending studs ort-eeth spaced a suitable distance apart. \Vithin the bearings 11 is journaled a shaft 18, which carries at its lower end a small pinion or crown wheel 19, meshing with the large gear upon the shaft 10, and near its upper end with an escapement-Wheel 20, which operates an escaping-pawl 21, pivoted within an arbor 22, mounted upon a block .3, at the side of themechanism. From one end of the pawl 21, which is doubleended, there projects downwardly and through an opening 24 in the lower wall of the casing-i a hammer-rod 25, the end of which terminates in a head 26, designed to be vibrated by the oscillations of the pawl, and thus sound an alarm by striking the two bells. The upper end of the shaft 12 is squared to receive a wind ing-key and projects through a perforation 27, formed in the cover 28 of the alarm-box, which cover is made removable I01 the purpose of gaining access to or removing the alarm mechanism. A spring-barrel 29, having a coil-spring30, extends from the opening 31, formed in the upper wall of the box 4, to the upper cross-bar 3, that connects the side pieces 2. Connecting the lower end of the barrel to the box is an eye or bail 32, the terminals ofwhich are bent to form a shank 33, held in akeeper 34, secured to the wall of the box by a fscrew 35. The upper end of the spring-barrel is secured to the cross-bar 3 in this instance by screws 36. The springbarrel is preferably formed of copper or other suitable material. Connected with the spring within the barrel is a cord 37, the opposite end of which is passed through the opening 31 in the box and connected With the barrel 13 upon the shaft 12, and is wound thereupon against the tension of the spring by the rotation of shaft 12, thus compressing said spring within the barrel.

38 represents a spring trigger or dog, and the same consists of, preferably, a piece of brass spring-wire bent intermediate its ends to form a coil 39 and at its rear terminal to form an eye 40, through which is passed a screw ll, securing the same to the inner surface of the back board 1 of the phone, whereby said trigger maybe adjusted upon the board. Forward of the coil-spring the trigger is extended to form an arm 42, which projects through an opening 43 and terminates di rectly under but not in contact with the rear face of the large gear-wheel mounted upon the winding-shaft 12 and in the path of the stop pins or pegs projecting from said wheel.

A suitable keeper 43* prevents the spring arm from rising to a point of contact with the gear-wheel mentioned.

44 represents the diaphragm-box, and the same is hinged by hinges 46 to the transverse upper bar 3, said box being provided with an internal annular recess 47, having a central perforation 48, communicating with the main frame of the phone and in linewit-h asimilar perforation 49, formed in the back board 1. The upper edge of the recess 41 is provided with an annular ofiset or recess 50, and within the same is seated the diaphragm 51, having a central perforation 52 and a soft-copper button 53, centrally perforated and mounted over the perforation 52, and through the same is passed the line=wire 54. The button, being of copper, has no injurious effect upon the diaphragm and does not obstruct a clear articulation.

the other of copper.

Any ordinary diaphragm may be employed; but I have herein shown what I consider the best adapted for telephones of this class, and the same consists of a disk or body portion 55 of thin poplar wood, upon each side of which is cemented a layer of heavy muslin 56, each layer being surmounted by a layer of paper 57, cemented thereto.

It is necessary in this construction of telephone wherein the line-wire is drawn taut by an outward swing of the diaghragm that said diaphragm must not only possess thoroughly the necessary acoustic qualities, but must be tough and rigid, the latter to preserve atlat surface and not be capable of being drawn out. I have found that thin poplar wood contains the proper acoustic qualities and is of suflicient strength, the only requisite being to preserve the same against moisture and asubsequent warping. This I avoid by the layers of muslin and paper, cementing them all together,

58 represents the diaphragm box cover, having a central opening 59, surrounded by an annular mouth-piece 60 of the usual construction The wire 54 consists of double strands 61 and 62, the one being of galvanized wire and This I find obtains a highly-satisfactory result, as the galvanized wire prevents any stretching 'of the cableor conductor and the copper wire obtains a clear tone or articulation in speaking and tends to deaden the roaring sound caused by the wind. At the terminals of the wires are formed loops .or eyes 63, which pass through the openings 52 in the diaphragm and button 53, and through said eyes are inserted the coiled copper wire keys 64, which by experience I have found a very efiicient means for destroying the whirring sound caused by the wind. The conductor 54 from one instrument to another is adjusted so as to be taut, for a purpose here- .inafter apparent.

are flared and designed to take over buttons 68,'secured to the inner surface. of a back board 1, by which means the diaphragm-box is maintained at its free end. A stop depends from the lower surface of the dia phragm-box intermediate the coiled wires and limits the downward movement of said box against the tension of the springs.

At the lower outer edge of the diaphagmbox is mounted in keepers 71 a downwardlydepending bail 72, the lower end of which is arranged above the normal plane of the lower ends of the coiled wires. The bail 72, it will be observed, is arranged in line with the spring-pressed arm of the trigger 38, and is thus adapted when the diaphragm-box is closed against the tension of the coiled spring to take upon and compress or lower said arm 1 or trigger, andthus remove the same from contact with the stop-pins on the gear of the shaft 11, whereby the coiled spring arranged within the spring-barrel serves to rotate the barrel and gear, the escapement-wheel and the double-ended pawl being oscillated thereby, and also the bell-hammer is vibrated between the two alarm-bells.

From the lower edge, or it may be any other suitable or convenient portion of the diaphragm-box, there projects a hand-bail 73, the ends of which terminate in eyes 74, secured to the box by means of screws 7 5,

The operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing description, and a lengthy minute description will therefore be unnecessary. I will deem it proper, however, to state that for the purpose of signaling at the oppositebox it is simply necessary to grasp the hand-bail and swing the diaphragm-box outwardly upon its hinges. The line-wire or conductor 54 being taut normally, it is thereby simply necessary to give but a slight outward movement to the bail, when said wire will consequen tl y compress or draw inwardly the diaphragm box at the opposite phone. When said diaphragm-box is drawn inwardly, its inwardly-disposed alarm-bail will come in contact and liberate the trigger and the alarm be sounded, as before described. As soon as the bail is drawn outwardly it is immediately released, and the alarm will be sounded for a length of time, in accordance with the space between the stops upon the rim of the lower gear-wheel. If desired, several outward pulls upon the bail may be given, and thus signals madeat the opposite phone for the purpose of calling different individuals to the inst-rument, all as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 7 V l. A diaphragm fora telephone, consisting IOO of a central portion of wood, opposite layers of muslin cemented thereto, and opposite superimposed layers of paper cemented to the muslin, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a diaphragm, of a line-wire inserted through the diaphragm and consisting of two strands of wire formed of copper and galvanized wire, respectively, and terminating in a loop, and a coiled fastening device inserted in the loop, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the diaphragm having a perforation and a superimposed perforated soft-copper button, of a line-wire inserted through the same, terminating in an eye, and a removable fastening device inserted through the eye, substantially as specified.

4. In atelephone, an alarm mechanism having a drum, in combination with a springbarrel provided with a spring, and a cord con necting the spring and drum, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in a telephone, with an alarm-box arranged at one end and containing an alarm mechanism having a drum, of a spring-barrel arranged outside of the alarmbox and provided with a spring, a cord connecting the spring and drum and extending through the wall of the box, and a bail secured to the wall of the box for the reception of the lower end of the drum, substantially as specifled.

6. The combination, with an alarm mechanism of a telephone provided with a gearwheel having stops, of a spring-trigger arranged in the path of the stops and means for pressing the trigger and releasing the wheel, substantially as specified.

'7. The combination, with an alarm mechanism of a telephone having a wheel provided with stops, ot' a spring-trigger arranged in the path of the stops and a hinged diaphragm-box provided with means for liberating the trigger, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the alarm mechanism of a telephone having a wheel provided with stops, of a spring-trigger, a hinged diaphram-box, springs arranged at the free end of the box and adapted to maintain the box above the trigger, and a depending liberating-bail mounted on the box and adapted to release the trigger when the spring is compressed, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, in a telephone, with an alarm mechanism, a gear-wheel which is provided with stops, of a spring-trigger, as 37, having a keeper and terminating in the path of the stops, a hinged spring-separated diaphragm-box having a diaphragm, a liberating-bail adapted to be brought in contact with the trigger, a line-wire extending from the diaphragm, and means at the opposite end of the line for tightening the line-wire,

compressing the trigger, and sounding the alarm, substantially as specified.

10. A telephone transmitter-box provided with a hand-bail, said box being hinged to and provided with springs interposed between its free end and the base-board thereof, substantially as specified.

11. The base-board 1, having the sides 2, and transverse bar 8, in combination with the transmitterbox 44, hinged, as at 46, recessed, as at 47, said recess being provided with the offset groove 50, the diaphragm 51, mounted on the groove, the line-wire 54, connecting the diaphragm and passing through openings 48 and 49, formed in line with each other in the base of the recess ell and the back-board, respectively, and the superimposed mouthplate 58, having the opening 59 and the mouth-piece 60, substantially as specified.

12. The combination, in amechanical telephone, of an alarm mechanism consisting of an. upper and lower cross-bar, as 9, mounted on side pieces 8 and abase 7, removable from the alarm-box i, a power-shaft mounted in the bearings 10, formed in the bars 9 and carrying a power-gear having pawl-and-ratchet mechanism and a winding-drum, a second shaft mounted in the bearings 11 and carrying a small pinion meshing with the powergear, an escapement-wheel, an escapement arranged at one side thereof, and a vibra tory hammer-rod arranged on the escapement projected through the casing and operating between alarm-bells afiixed to the easing, substantially as specified.

13. A telephone transmitter-box hinged to the phone and provided with springs interposed between its free end and the baseboard thereof, substantially as specified.

14. The combination, in a telephone, with an alarm-box arranged at one end and containing an alarm mechanism having a drum, ofa spring-barrel arranged outside of the alarmbox and provided with a spring, and a cord connecting the spring and drum and extended through the wall of the box, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. RUSSELL.

lVitnesses:

VVILLIAM V. SHANKLIN, HENRY C. BoLINcEe. 

